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Why Is Public Speaking — in shoes — So Scary?

by Kim on June 7th, 2006

It has been said that public speaking tops the list of almost all irrational fears. Often we believe speaking in public means giving a speech in front of a giant audience. (in their underwear ) — but for some of us, it can mean simply talking to others.

Recently a friend told me about a National group called, Toast Masters International. This community-structured group promises:

You’ll become a better speaker and leader and gain confidence to succeed in whatever path you’ve chosen in life.

• Deliver great presentations
• Easily lead teams and conduct meetings
• Give and receive constructive evaluations
• Be a better listener

I know people who have joined Toast Masters and they believe that it changed their life.

I applaud them, but I discovered a slightly different (and cheaper) way to cure my fear of public speaking — fabulous shoes:

One dark winter morning, I left my house for the train to NYC, took a cab to my office, sat down at my desk, prepared for a meeting I had with a client and then put my materials in my brief case.

As I headed out the door, I looked down and realized that I was wearing a different patent leather pump on each foot! (It was the ’90’s — every girl had to have a few pairs of patent pumps). How did I not notice this?!

Now what was I going to do? Forget that my fellow commuters must have thought I was nuts. At that moment, I had minutes to make the meeting, and convince clients that I was intelligent enough to handle their business.

There was no time to go to Bloomingdales for another pair of shoes…and I didn’t have spares under my desk.

omygodomygodomyGAAAWWD!

I pulled myself together, went to the meeting, presented the new ad campaign and got the job.

But what about the shoes? How was I able to deal with the embarrassment of my absent-mindedness and brilliantly present to these people?

I told them that I had just had surgery on my left foot and it was still swollen. Not only did I get the job, but I also got compliments on both shoes!

In other words, my profound fears of humilation and probable termination (totally different studies in self-improvement) far out-weighed my fears of inadequacy and self-doubt, as they relate to speaking in public.  From that moment on I felt secure enough with my speaking abilities to handle any public forum.

Tell me about your harrowing public speaking moments…you will feel better, I promise.

Photo: Flickr.com

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